Former Eastenders cast member Michael Greco has revealed whether he’s been approached to reprise his role.
The actor, now 54, played Beppe di Marco on the BBC soap from 1998 until his departure in 2002. He teased last year that he would be open to returning, but has now shared an update ahead of the show’s 40th anniversary next month.
Several familiar faces have been back to Albert Square in recent months, like Ruby Allen (played by Louisa Lytton), in the build-up to the special occasion and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) is set to make his way home to Walford soon.
Michael – whose character Beppe had a long-running feud with Grant – spoke to Suffolk Sound about the prospect of reprising his role recently. He revealed that he hasn’t been asked to return as part of the celebrations and teased that if Tiffany Mitchell (Martine McCutcheon), who was a love-interest for Beppe, hadn’t been killed off in 1998, he may have already been approached about reprising his role.
He said: “If Tiffany wasn’t killed off she would probably have gone back to Eastenders, and then they may have asked me back. They are having their 40th anniversary and they have asked a lot of people back but they haven’t asked me back, but that’s OK as my career is heading in a good direction.”
The professional poker player – who spoke about what it was like working on the show in another recent interview – went on to discuss having worked with the late Barbara Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell. He described her as his “favourite” colleague and recalled them once discussing her well-publicised affair with the late Sid James, whom she worked alongside in the Carry On film series.
Michael said: “[Barbara] was my favourite person to work with. I love the Carry On films. The first day on set we met I was very nervous. We all went for a drink at the BBC canteen after, she wanted to know about me but I wanted to know about her affair with Sid James.” He added: “She told me they had an affair while filming and they galloped off on a horse somewhere, it was fascinating.”
During the interview, Michael also spoke about his love of fitness and teased that he wants to “stay fit and healthy” for his sons; Gianluca, three, and seven-month-old Gianni. He said: “I would give up every amount of success I have in my whole life to spend another 30 years with my boys.”
He continued by sharing: “The greatest job I’ve ever had is being a father to my children. Keeping myself healthy and fit for them is my duty and my obligation. I had them late on in life in my 50’s so I need to stay fit and healthy.
“Keeping fit is a lot of hard work and dedication but it’s doable, there is a lot on social media about fitness but it’s from people in their late teens or early 30’s, with good metabolisms, but for an older woman or man there isn’t enough around.”
He added: “I’m approaching 56 and I’m in best shape I’ve ever been in – low body fat and I am at the gym 3/4 times a week. Nutrition in the most important thing. I don’t cut out foods, I don’t pound the treadmill – I do have a little bit of chocolate each day. I do intermittent fasting so I eat from 2pm-8pm and that’s it. I get up in the morning, take the kids to school and go to the gym.”
Michael said: “I have two kids, I’m constantly running about and I could easily just pick a sandwich here or there but it’s the discipline. Joe Wicks has cornered the health market but maybe there is room for someone a bit older to invigorate people in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s.”
He concluded: “Your health is everything, you could be the richest man 6 feet under, what is the point. There is no point having a car that is 200k, or a watch that is 20k, your health should be number one. I put my children to bed every night, I kneel by them and say a little prayer, just please, give me another 30 years with my children, it’s all I want.”
Listen at suffolksound.com or on your DAB/Smart Speaker.
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